Cort Cornerhttps://blog.cort.com
Furniture Rental BlogTue, 06 Dec 2016 18:57:26 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1https://blog.cort.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/favicon.pngCort Cornerhttps://blog.cort.com
3232CORT Sponsors 2016 World AIDS Day Luncheonhttps://blog.cort.com/cort-in-communities/cort-sponsors-2016-world-aids-day-luncheon/
Fri, 02 Dec 2016 18:42:52 +0000http://blog.cort.com/?p=9449This December, CORT purchased a $1,500 table sponsorship for the 2016 World AIDS Day Luncheon to further their commitment to the work this organization is doing in and around the […]

]]>This December, CORT purchased a $1,500 table sponsorship for the 2016 World AIDS Day Luncheon to further their commitment to the work this organization is doing in and around the local community. The AIDS Foundation of Houston (AFH) offers programs and services to over 7,000 individuals affected by HIV/AIDS in the Houston area. CORT partners with the organization to provide home furnishings for safe, affordable living and supportive services to individuals and families impacted by HIV.

“It is our goal to partner with organizations who have a mission to provide programs and services that have a positive impact in the community,” says Todd Shell, regional manager, CORT. “The AIDS Foundation of Houston supports the underserved and fulfills a need for families here in the Houston area.”

]]>How to Celebrate an American Thanksgivinghttps://blog.cort.com/destination-services/celebrate-american-thanksgiving/
Tue, 22 Nov 2016 18:25:24 +0000http://blog.cort.com/?p=9441We wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and for all of the non Americans among us, we wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a little about what […]

]]>We wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and for all of the non Americans among us, we wanted to take the opportunity to tell you a little about what Thanksgiving means to your new neighbors.

First of all, Thanksgiving is an excuse for everyone to do two of America’s favorite things – eat and watch football! Seriously though, it’s the major holiday in the U.S. for families to come together and spend time catching up on a break from their busy lives.

Almost everyone gets a day off for Thanksgiving and you will hear of people traveling across the country to be with their family. There are lots of fantastic traditional foods – turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie – and lots more. Imagine the biggest celebratory meal in your home country – and then double it! That’s an American Thanksgiving Dinner.

Of course, Thanksgiving Day is actually a long standing tradition in the US dating back, some say, to a harvest celebration in 1621 in Plymouth, New England.It is now celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November and you will find just about everything closes down for some of the day if not all. Check websites for any stores you plan to visit and buy your food before the stores close on Wednesday evening to be sure you have what you need.

After this day of rest though, be ready to shop! The Friday following Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday and it’s the day when all the shops have sales. People will go out to stand in line for hours for the best deals from the major stores and you will have to be ready to battle crowds if you want to secure some bargains for yourself. Lots of online sales will begin on the night of Thanksgiving and some stores have begun to open too – but this brings some controversy as it is meant to be a time for families to relax together away from work.

If you can’t face the crowds on Friday, don’t worry! There will be sales for several days and the Monday following Thanksgiving is now known as Cyber Monday because that’s when the major online deals will be released.

Most people will have heard of the Macy’s Parade which takes place in New York and is world famous. This year the parade celebrates its 90th year so expect some extra special inflatables and guests!

This truly is one of the best days to see America at its finest. Glorious celebrations and families coming together to appreciate the fact that they live in one of the best places in the world!

]]>This October, CORT celebrated the opening of its new rental showroom and clearance center in the Charlotte community, offering customers a one-stop shop for unique, affordable furniture and accessories. The new space, located next to the previous location on South Boulevard, features 13,300-square-feet of furnishings and accessories to meet any design style or budget. The rental showroom allows the community to stop by and physically see the selection CORT has available for rent, while the clearance center houses furnishings that consumers are able to purchase directly from the floor and take home that same day. The new and improved functional space is equipped with a workplace wall, refreshment station and conference room that can be used for community events.

The grand opening event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house, allowing attendees the opportunity to browse the showroom and experience CORT’s vast product selection. Throughout the evening, attendees enjoyed refreshments, captured lasting memories in the photo booth and entered a raffle for the chance to win in-demand prizes, including a 46-inch LED TV, spa gift certificates, iPad mini and free home staging services from CORT’s talented designers.

Proceeds from the event benefited Beds for Kids, a Charlotte-based non-profit that provides beds and essential furniture to families in need. The new showroom also donated furniture and bedding to the non-profit organization.

This new brick-and-mortar location recognizes CORT’s growing focus on the Charlotte market and offers better service to local customers with more space to showcase their selection and a refreshment station so guests can make themselves at home while they shop. Congratulations to CORT Charlotte on a successful event!

]]>Expat Interviews: Elaine Marnoch a Scottish National living in Houstonhttps://blog.cort.com/destination-services/expat-ask-me-anything-elaine-marnoch/
Mon, 14 Nov 2016 20:10:48 +0000http://blog.cort.com/?p=9406Ex·pa·tri·ate: (n) a person who lives outside their native country. Take a moment to imagine what life in another country would be like. The foods you would taste, the sights you’d […]

Take a moment to imagine what life in another country would be like. The foods you would taste, the sights you’d see and the people you would meet would make a hug impact on your day-to-day life. Here at CORT, we interviewed expatriates to see what their experience has been like relocating to the United States from another country. Take a look at what life in the U.S. has been for them and what advice they have for people interested in experiencing life in another country.

Name: Elaine Marnoch

Nationality: British

Industry that brought you to the U.S.: Oil & Gas

Are you alone on this assignment? I’m with my husband

Is this your first international assignment? If not, where else have you lived? This is our third time in Houston and we have also lived in South Korea.

Was the decision to move to the U.S. easy or difficult for you and your family? Not at all… we looked upon it as a chance to learn new cultures and my children received first class education.

What is one American tourist attraction that you have visited? The Grand Canyon

What is your favorite American saying or slang word? “Y’all”

What word or saying from your native language do you find yourself using often because it just doesn’t translate well to American English? “Trousers”

Is there anything that you really miss and can’t find in U.S. stores? British fish, chips and mushy peas

What is your favorite American food? Texmex

Fill in the blank: Americans are: Extremely confident

Sometimes I wish Americans: ‘got’ the British sense of humour

What has surprised you (good or bad) about life in the U.S.? Waiting times at the doctors

The best thing about being an expatriate is: Forging new friendships and learning different cultures

The worst thing about being an expatriate is: Being so far from family

If you could relocate anywhere in the world, where would you go? Singapore, which we turned down a few years ago as my twin daughters had just started IB diplomas.

Imagine that a good friend just called to tell you that he/she has accepted an assignment in the U.S. What advice might you have for them as they prepare to relocate? Welcome it, accept every invitation or offer, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone.

Last thoughts: I’ve been an expat for a number of years and I am so grateful for this amazing journey. I have friends all over the world, my children have loved their journey too. In fact, one of them successfully qualified as a teacher and was offered a job at the British International School of Houston and is now an expat again on her own merit. A success story!

]]>Join CORT in Supporting Military Families this Veterans Dayhttps://blog.cort.com/cort-in-communities/join-cort-supporting-military-families-veterans-day/
Fri, 11 Nov 2016 13:51:12 +0000http://blog.cort.com/?p=9399In honor of Veterans Day, CORT is celebrating its long-standing partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation by inviting you to join them in support of our military families. CORT […]

]]>In honor of Veterans Day, CORT is celebrating its long-standing partnership with the Folds of Honor Foundation by inviting you to join them in support of our military families. CORT has been a partner of the Folds of Honor Foundation since 2012, a national organization that provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of fallen or severely disabled military service men and women. Did you know that more than 87 percent of military dependents do not qualify for federal scholarship assistance? While the federal government provides some support for these families, proactive civilian organizations need to assist them as well. The Folds of Honor Foundation was established to help provide educational scholarships to the 87 percent.

Since The Folds of Honor Foundation was established in 2007, they have awarded close to 13,000 educational scholarships, and CORT is proud to have contributed to that number.

This Veterans Day, we say “thank you” to all veterans and families of veterans who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. To learn more about the Folds of Honor Foundation, please visit the www.foldsofhonor.org. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for a scholarship, please see the “Scholarships” section of the website. Happy Veterans Day!

]]>Youth Sports Prepared Ray Randall for Leadership during His Military Service and Role at CORThttps://blog.cort.com/cort-in-communities/youth-sports-prepared-ray-randall-leadership-military-service-role-cort/
Mon, 07 Nov 2016 15:56:09 +0000http://blog.cort.com/?p=9383A Kansas native, CORT District General Manager Ray Randall played baseball at a local junior college right after graduating from Kansas City’s Piper High School in 1981. Unfortunately, Ray’s parents […]

]]>A Kansas native, CORT District General Manager Ray Randall played baseball at a local junior college right after graduating from Kansas City’s Piper High School in 1981. Unfortunately, Ray’s parents didn’t have the money for him to stay in college, so Ray decided to join the U.S. Army to benefit from the GI Bill.

Joining the Army wasn’t necessarily a tough decision for Ray. His father, and hero, served in the Army during WWII and Ray loved sitting down with his dad and listening to his stories from his time spent in the military.

Ray spent two years in Ft. Hood, Texas, where he was a supply sergeant. In this role, Ray was primarily responsible for the general upkeep and maintenance of all Army supplies and equipment. This entailed receiving, inspecting, managing of inventory, loading/unloading of supplies, storage and delivering supplies and equipment.

Shortly after arriving at Ft. Hood, Ray witnessed two high-ranking officials get fired. He was a young specialist at the time, but he was put in charge of finding $100 million out of $300 million in missing items. Within 6 months of being told he needed to “fix the problem,” he reconciled the books and found the products. Based on his performance, Ray received an Army Commendation Medal, which helped propel him to the rank of Sergeant.

After Ft. Hood, Ray spent three years in Frankfurt, Germany, where his first son was born. During his time in Germany, Ray took advantage of being in Europe and toured several countries including Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy and Spain, where he visited wineries and enjoyed the local sangria.

After serving in the Army, Ray joined CORT in September 1987 as a driver. He was a driver for CORT for about a year, before moving up through the ranks of management and eventually to the district general manager, which he holds today. As a coach’s son growing up, leadership was instilled in him at a very young age. “I carried the leadership role through my athletic activities, then my military service and finally with my role at CORT,” said Ray. “As a very competitive individual, I will do anything to win and be successful.”

Today, Ray credits social media for allowing him to maintain his friendships with his fellow Army veterans. Enjoying quite a bit of beer while stationed in Germany, his Army buddies appropriately named their Facebook group – Euro Drunks.

]]>CORT’s Chris Stahurski Learned to Embrace His Redirected Pathhttps://blog.cort.com/cort-in-communities/corts-chris-stahurski-learned-to-embrace-his-redirected-path/
Fri, 16 Sep 2016 14:43:24 +0000http://cortblog2.wpengine.com/?p=8861From the Air Force to ALCO to CORT, Chris Stahurski learned how to embrace wherever life took him. Learn more about his journey & his commitment to CORT!

]]>A lifelong resident of Parma, Ohio, and member of a military family, it was not surprising when CORT Senior Account Representative Chris Stahurski graduated Parma Senior High in 1975, he decided to join the United States Air Force.

Chris joined the Air Force with the intention of becoming an x-ray technician, but ended up being assigned as a military material facilities specialist, which basically works on the supply chain. After basic training, Chris went to duty at Pope Air Force base in North Carolina, working in a warehouse where he learned various supply chain procedures. Using a Univac 1040 computer system, Chris learned how to stock products, manage deliveries on base and even obtained a license to use a forklift. After training at Pope Field, Chris was reassigned to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to work the night shift running a military warehouse. Chris certainly took advantage of living in a resort town! He worked part-time at a local restaurant where he met a lot of tourists and hung out at the beach whenever he had down time.

The supply system experience served Chris well when he got out of the service. After a short stint as a cabinet maker (not his forte), Chris went to work for ALCO, a furniture rental company, as a warehouse driver. Ironically, Chris found the opportunity at ALCO after moving back in with his family and needing bedroom furniture. He remembered a company that sold used furnishings and was planning to do some shopping that week. The next morning while looking through the help wanted section of the newspaper he came across the warehouse delivery system opportunity at ALCO, the furniture company he thought of the day before. He went in for the interview and received the job offer on his birthday, October 12, 1980!

Chris worked in the warehouse for about a year when he was approached to try his hand at sales. So, rather than make a complete career switch, Chris worked his job in the warehouse from 8am-2pm and then went to the sales floor from 4-8pm, learning about leases, product offerings, etc. Eventually, Chris made a complete transition to a full-time salesperson. One of the highlights of the job was going to the furniture market in High Point to buy new product for the company. In 1999, CORT purchased ALCO, and Chris became a member of the CORT family where he has served over the last 16 years.

If there is one thing his military and business career taught Chris, it is that the path that you plan on taking doesn’t always work out the way you anticipate. “Often life redirects you to a different path and it is up to you to make the best of the situation and take advantage of what you are presented with and maximize its potential,” said Chris. “Much like taking a sales lead and turning a new customer into a lifelong client.”

If the sales gig doesn’t work out for Chris, perhaps he should try his hand at matchmaker. Five years ago, Chris introduced a coworker to one of his childhood friends. The two realized they grew up on the same street and never realized it. The couple is now married.

]]>What to Look for When Buying from Classified Advertising Websiteshttps://blog.cort.com/college/look-buying-classified-advertising-websites/
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 17:25:04 +0000http://cortblog2.wpengine.com/?p=8856Sorting through online classifieds can be daunting, but not if you know what you're looking for. Check out these tips for furnishing your apartment online!

]]>Transitioning from a residence hall to an off-campus apartment can be daunting for any college student. Many students who move into unfurnished units will often rely on classified advertising websites for their furniture, but there are risks involved if you don’t know what to look for. Here are a few tips to ensure you make the best choices when sourcing furniture for your new home.

Know the brand

Research any product you are interested in before committing to the sale. Sometimes it is difficult to gauge the quality of a product based solely on the description and images provided by the seller. If the brand name is not listed, ask for it. This will allow you to look at online reviews and help you make a more informed decision when purchasing.

Request images

When searching through classified advertisements, look for images to provide a better understanding of a product’s condition. If images are not included in the original posting, request them. Multiple images provide more insight and allow you to better evaluate the furniture so you won’t be seeing it for the first time when you pick it up.

Prepare for pick-up/delivery

Another consideration to make when purchasing furniture online is how it will be transported to your home. Confirm these details with the seller before purchasing the product. In most cases, you will be responsible for picking up and delivering any products you purchase. If you are responsible, ensure your vehicle can support the size and quantity of your furnishings without causing damage. If the seller offers an option for delivery, confirm any costs associated with this service up front.

Ask if you can return it

Buying a substandard product is the primary risk associated with purchasing furniture from classified advertising websites. In most cases, there is a “no return” policy once a product is purchased. Before you commit, ensure the listing answers any questions or concerns you have and ask the seller specifically if they would allow you to return the product if there are any issues when you get it home.

Consider renting instead of buying

Another great option for furnishing your space without the hassle of shopping, moving and installation is furniture rental. CORT offers a great selection of furniture for every room to make your new space feel like home. The entire rental process can be done online, everything from selection and ordering to scheduling delivery and set-up.

If you plan to source your furniture from classified advertising websites, keep these tips in mind so you’ll be prepared! Doing your research ahead of time will help you to make the best decisions and ensure your furnishings last.

]]>Simple Steps to Redesign Your Kitchenhttps://blog.cort.com/tips/simple-steps-redesign-kitchen/
Fri, 02 Sep 2016 17:18:32 +0000http://cortblog2.wpengine.com/?p=8855You don't have to tear down walls to give your kitchen a new look. See these fun tips for refreshing your kitchen's style, without losing its many memories!

]]>The kitchen is the heart and soul of the home. We all have wonderful memories spending time in this sacred space, doing everything from baking cookies with mom to gathering the whole family together for the holidays. While these memories can never be replaced, it’s okay to change up the look of your kitchen from time to time to continue providing a warm and inviting space to family members and guests. Here are a few simple suggestions for redesigning your kitchen that won’t break the bank or erase the fond memories made in this special room of the home.

Switch up your color scheme: Redesigning your kitchen doesn’t mean you have to repaint the entire room. Using the dominant colors that already exist in your kitchen, try adding an accent color to redefine the space. If your walls could use a fresh coat, consider using a neutral color that works well with the existing tones of your cabinets and countertops. Once this neutral color has been added to the room, you can add touches of color to your other kitchen décor to bring the room together.

Bring in new décor: Do you find yourself growing tired of your kitchen décor? Well, it may be time for a change. Try mixing things up with your kitchen accessories by implementing a bold new color that works well with the room’s color scheme. You can use this color for your soap dispenser, toaster, coffee mugs or even your salt and pepper shakers. By working with a single color, you’ll effectively set a tone for the entire room design.

Establish a focal point: As you redesign your kitchen, it’s important to establish a focal point. Doing this will give the room an identity, immediately attracting the attention of your loved ones and guests. By simply hanging a painting or family photo on a main wall, or directly behind the kitchen table, you can achieve this effect in your eating area. If you want your focal point to also make the space feel more open and less cluttered, consider adding a mirror directly behind the table opposite a window to reflect the outdoors.

Switch up your shelving: Design trends come and go, but one trend that has lasted in kitchen design is the transition from traditional cabinet space to open shelving. If eliminating your cabinets in favor of open shelving isn’t realistic, try adding a few open shelves to your kitchen for decorating purposes. Adding open shelves above your kitchen windows to place decorative bowls, plates and other collectables can add a nice touch to the room.

Take a look around your kitchen. If it looks like it could use a little pick-me-up, try these tips out to create a fresh new space. With just a little time and effort, you can spice things up and create an entirely different atmosphere in your kitchen.

]]>CORT Donates Tables & Chairs to Community Potluck in Tukwilahttps://blog.cort.com/cort-in-communities/cort-donates-tables-chairs-community-potluck-tukwila/
Mon, 22 Aug 2016 22:11:00 +0000http://cortblog2.wpengine.com/?p=8851Earlier this month, the community of Tukwila, Washington, gathered together for a world-record-sized potluck, sharing everything from fried chicken to Chinese hom bow. Thanks to a generous donation from CORT, […]

]]>Earlier this month, the community of Tukwila, Washington, gathered together for a world-record-sized potluck, sharing everything from fried chicken to Chinese hom bow. Thanks to a generous donation from CORT, tables and chairs were set up to support the approximate 1,500 people who attended the event. This attendance unofficially set a new world record for the largest potluck, which was previously 1,276.

CORT is thankful for the opportunity to participate in such a great event and very proud to be a part of the diverse community of Tukwila.